Dr. Michael J. Cooper’s remarkable journey fuses his skills as a healer, storyteller, and bridge builder, all with the aim of fostering understanding in the Middle East and beyond.
Dr. Michael J. Cooper’s long career as a pediatric cardiologist would alone make him an influential figure. But it’s his life-long commitment to storytelling, peacebuilding, and reconciliation in one of the world’s most politically charged regions that defines his legacy. Through his work as both a medical professional and an author, Dr. Cooper has spent decades shaping narratives of compassion, human connection, and the potential for unity despite profound divides.
Born in 1948 in Berkeley, California, Dr. Cooper’s path was destined to intertwine with both science and the complex cultural tapestry of the Middle East. His first transformative step came in 1966 when he moved to Israel at the age of 18. He arrived in Jerusalem when the city was divided between Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and he recounts how electric the experience was; “During that first year, I attended an academy for training Hebrew teachers and lived in a pension apartment less than a hundred yards from the rolls of barbed wire that marked the armistice line set after the 1948 war. As we walked back and forth to classes every morning and evening, we would pass right next to that border. I could literally touch it.” But that border was wiped away by the 1967 War, with Israel taking control of East Jerusalem along with the West Bank of the Jordan River (in addition to Gaza, the Sinai, and the Golan Heights.) As Cooper recounts: “Within hours of the cease-fire, my friends and I immediately left the shelter of the pension in West Jerusalem and began exploring East Jerusalem and the adjacent parts of the West Bank, literally walking the half mile into the Old City.” In the years subsequent to those moments, Cooper found himself surrounded by a vibrant mix of cultures, beliefs, and struggles. It was during these formative years that his commitment to the region and its future began to take root as his Zionist narrative was shaped by daily interactions with Palestinians who shared his love of the land, though they were actually born there.
From Medicine to Humanitarian Work
Dr. Cooper graduated from Tel-Aviv University Medical School, followed by a rotating internship and a year of Cardiology training in Haifa. Then, after living eleven years in Israel, he returned to the US in order to specialize in Pediatric Cardiology. After fellowship training at UCSF in San Francisco, he worked with UCSF and Kaiser Permanente in Northern California for forty years. Yet his heart remained tied to the Middle East, and starting in 2007 he began volunteering his expertise to Palestinian children who lacked access to specialty pediatric cardiology care. In the course of seventeen years and twenty-six separate missions Dr. Cooper’s belief in the power and promise of reconciliation, rapprochement and a sense of shared humanity grew stronger, laying the groundwork for the next phase of his life.
The turning point came in 1995 with the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and the death of the peace process. This tragic event ignited Dr. Cooper’s desire to contribute his voice to a conversation away from politics and conflict. Turning to writing historical fiction set in the Holy Land at major historical turning points, he was able to turn his sense of shock and sadness to tell stories that focused on the personal experiences of individuals from all walks of life caught in the turbulent history of the Middle East. He realized that through storytelling, he could give voice to those whose narratives were often overshadowed by the geopolitical struggles of the region.
The Birth of Historical Fiction: A New Path to Peace
Dr. Cooper’s first foray into writing came in the form of his debut novel, Foxes in the Vineyard. Set in 1948 Jerusalem, he captured the spirit of a time when the region was undergoing monumental change with a novel that blended struggle, espionage, love, and intrigue into a book that a local newspaper review described as follows: “Imagine a novel in which you find Mozart and Nazis, archaeologists and the British army, hidden treasure, Knights Templar, lost loves, metaphysics and a little quantum physics, and you have a glimpse of what’s in store for readers of Foxes in the Vineyard… a rich, complex and erudite story.” The book won the Grand Prize at the 2011 San Francisco Writers Conference Indie Publishing Contest, signaling the beginning of his literary career.
But it was his second novel, Wages of Empire, set during World War I in Ottoman Palestine, that marked Dr. Cooper as a master storyteller. This book earned him the 2022 CIBA Grand Prize for Young Adult Fiction, first-place honors for the 2022 CIBA Hemingway Award for Wartime Historical Fiction, and the 2025 Pacific Book Award for Best Historical Fiction. The book’s intricate portrayal of war, identity, and politics earned critical acclaim for its depth and insight. His third book, Crossroads of Empire, further cemented his place in the world of historical fiction, winning the 2023 First Place CIBA Hemingway Award and the 2025 International Impact Award for Historical Wartime Fiction.
These works didn’t just recount the past; they invited readers to reconsider how the past shapes the present. Through his novels, Dr. Cooper’s characters are not defined solely by their roles in history but by their shared humanity, their struggles, and their dreams.
A Focus on Peace Through Human Connection
What sets Dr. Cooper’s writing apart is his ability to transcend the boundaries of time, politics, and religion. His novels provide a rare glimpse into the deeply personal experiences of people living in the midst of historical upheaval. Whether in wartime Palestine or the Holy Land during the Crusades, Cooper’s characters are multi-dimensional, grappling with complex questions of identity, belonging, and survival.
His latest work, The Rabbi’s Knight, released in September 2025, brings readers to 13th-century Jerusalem at the twilight of the Crusades. Like his previous works, the book explores themes of faith, identity, and the intersecting cultures of Jews, Christians, and Muslims in the Holy Land. Just published in September of 2025, The Rabbi’s Knight has already won the BookFest First Place Award for Historical Fiction, further solidifying Dr. Cooper’s status as an influential voice in the genre.
Beyond the Page: Dr. Cooper’s Dedication to Reconciliation
While Dr. Cooper’s literary works have earned him recognition in the world of fiction, his volunteer work and ongoing commitment to building bridges in the Middle East have shaped his writing and life in profound ways. Through his medical missions in Palestinian communities, his advocacy for peace, and his years of work in Israel, Dr. Cooper has always believed in the power of human connection as a vehicle for change.
His novels stand as a testament to the potential of storytelling to heal. By focusing on the shared history of Jews, Muslims, and Christians in the Middle East, Dr. Cooper’s books transcend the politics of the moment, offering a broader and more hopeful perspective on the future of the region. As he once said, “History is not just a record of wars and conflicts; it is a tapestry of human experiences. Through storytelling, we can bring these stories to life, teaching the lessons of the past to guide us toward a more compassionate future.”
Through both his medical career and his writing, Dr. Cooper has dedicated his life to promoting empathy, reconciliation, and understanding. His work continues to inspire individuals around the world to see beyond the divisions of the past and to work towards a future of peace and coexistence.
The Impact of Cooper’s Work
Dr. Michael J. Cooper’s unique blend of healing, writing, and peacebuilding offers an important lesson for all of us: the power of human connection transcends political and cultural divides.
For anyone interested in exploring the complexities of the Middle East, its history, and the universal themes of identity and reconciliation, Cooper’s novels are essential reading. They offer a powerful reminder that history is not simply a series of events, it is a tapestry of shared experiences that, when understood through the lens of humanity, can lead to healing.
To learn more about Dr. Michael J. Cooper and explore his body of work, visit his website or connect with him on social media via Instagram, and X. Dr. Cooper’s journey of healing hearts and bridging divides through storytelling is one worth following and sharing.
